Reviews
THE STRAY BIRDS
THE STRAY BIRDS No Label No Number This Pennsylvania trio is a wonderful combination of musicianship and songwriting that fits well into any bluegrass, folk, or Americana setting. The band is Maya de Vitry (guitar, fiddle, banjo), Oliver Craven (guitar, resonator guitar, electric guitar, fiddle), and Charles Muench (bass, banjo), and all three share in…
MANDOLIN FOR DUMMIES—BY DON JULIN
Wiley & Sons 9781119942764. Paperback, 396 pp., $24.99. (The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, P019 8SQ, England, www.wiley.com.) By now it should almost go without saying that the word “Dummies” used in the titles of this series is not to be taken literally. There is more than enough information contained in this book, information…
CORY PIATT, DAYDREAMS
CORY PIATT DAYDREAMS Patuxent Music PXCD-234 It is always a breath of fresh air when a new bluegrass CD arrives in the mail that pops from the first note to the end. And, it is even sweeter when the album is by a younger musician who is making their mark and striking out on their…
ALL-TIME FAVORITE PARKING LOT PICKER’S MANDOLIN SOLOS—BY DIX BRUCE
Mel Bay 9780786684533. CD included, 88 pp., $22.99. (Mel Bay Publications, #4 Industrial Dr., Pacific, MO 63069, www.melbay.com.) It’s early in the year, so there’s still plenty of time to get ready for this summer’s festival jam sessions. This book will help you get there. Besides being a talented bluegrass and jazz mandolinist, author Dix…
ANDREW COLLINS, CATS AND DOGS
ANDREW COLLINS CATS AND DOGS Sytesounds SYTE1113 On Cats And Dogs, Ontario’s Andrew Collins delivers 11 original and often delightful bluegrass, classical, and jazz instrumentals working in small ensembles with a variety of talented friends. Collins’ second solo outing, following Little Widgets that earned him a Canadian Folk Music award for Pushing The Boundaries in…
DAVID THOM, THAT OLD FAMILIAR
DAVID THOM THAT OLD FAMILIAR Swollen Records SW11016 Listening to “California Is Burning,” “That Old Familiar,” “Fifth Third,” “Windy City,” and, particularly, “My Way Of Saying Goodbye” from vocalist and guitarist David Thom’s new CD, it is easy to see why he was able to land a spot with David Grisman’s Bluegrass Experience. Each of…